Preparing for a Disaster

Be a resource for clients before an emergency occurs.

Consider common types of disaster situations the region experienced in the past and help your clients plan ahead. State government, universities and associations are resources for specific preparation information.

Understand your state and local emergency plans.

Let your clients know who to contact.

Provide tips for animal safety, such as remove halters and avoid releasing animals.

Direct volunteers and donations to a central state or community resource.

Discuss this Article 2

Anonymous (not verified)

on Feb 26, 2014

Interesting article, with great points for future reference.

Something little commented on re. Atlas is that the temperatures were unusually high prior to the start. In the seventies and even low eighties for a few days. The storm began with rain, which was very welcome. While I'm not sure of the actual time span between those high temperatures and the drop to very cold with wind chills below zero, that range, from 80% to minus ten or twenty degrees had to be very stressful on livestock. Add the snow piling up on the animals, surrounding their bodies with additional wind driven wetness and wind chill just added to the stresses.

We didn't lose many cattle directly, but have lost a few since the storm, mostly calves we have in our backgrounding lot. It seems reasonable that there will be more losses as time takes its toll, and with the pretty hard winter we have had to date. It isn't our first, or worst, and won't be our last on this ranch now into its sixth generation in western SD. It is never easy, and seeing friends and neighbors suffer when one isn't hurting so much personally, is not new. It just wasn't our turn this time, but we have 'been there and done that' several times in our history here.

I hope it is easier on those who suffered great losses, that it wasn't universal, since those whose losses were not great have been able to help neighbors who did suffer, this time.

We moved to SC several years ago from being a 7 generation Texan, it's tough to get used to. But it was a business move to strt another cow/calf deal here and work back and forth between TX & SC. Anyway it seems to have been a good business decision w/ drght and all. But we got caught w/ our britches down an had a unexpected ice storm. We lost power for 5 days tree's and limbs fell on fences. Cow's & clvs had to be hauled to the HQ and all we could do was put out more hay then allotted. As well as grain to try and get the temperature up with the calves. But we made it through it. Lost not the 1st animal, Our Lord above blessed not only the Livestock but every one that took some leather w/ them when they got off that tree. God bless the cattlemen from sea to shining sea.